Things to do in San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge and Park

You can see the Golden Gate Bridge from many points in San Francisco, but if you want to get a closer look, there are a lot of ways to do it. Walk onto the Golden Gate Bridge if you can. You can't really appreciate the size and height unless you've walked on it, at least a little way.

Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39

These two attractions are perhaps the most popular things to do in San Francisco. Fisherman's Wharf gets its name and neighborhood characteristics from the city's early days during the Gold Rush where Italian emigre fishermen settled in the area and fished for the Dungeness Crab. From then until present day it remained the home base of San Francisco's fishing fleet. A unique shopping and dining experience awaits you in Pier 39.

Cable Cars

The San Francisco cable car system is an icon of San Francisco. It is the world's last permanently operational manually operated cable car system. For the visitor, San Francisco cable cars are not a means of transportation but a destination that will show you many of the city’s attractions, including Bombard Street and the spectacular views of the shoreline.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) offshore from San Francisco. Alcatraz has served as a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal Bureau of Prisons federal prison until 1963. In addition to its touristic appeal, its isolation has made it a popular prison figure in movies.

Nearby Attractions

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. It was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern lake being shaped during the ice ages. There you can find a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. You can also find large casinos on the Nevada side.

Napa Valley

Napa Valley is only about 20 miles from Berkeley. It is famous for breathtaking views and is widely considered one of the top American Viticultural Areas in all of the United States. Stop by Napa Valley's boutique wineries to taste some of the world’s best wines.

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods is 12 miles to the north of San Francisco. It protects a large area of old growth Coast Redwood trees that can be found only in a narrow, cool coastal belt from Monterey to Oregon. The tallest tree in the Muir Woods is 258 feet (79 m) and the average age of the redwoods are between 500 and 800 years old with the oldest being at least 1,200 years old.